WINTHROP — The Gibbon Fairfax Winthrop (GFW) school board unanimously approved a resolution Monday to allow teaching staff to work ahead on lesson planning next week.

The resolution allows using Monday and Tuesday, Nov. 23-24, as time for staff to recharge themselves and work on future lesson plans.

“The staff is stressed,” said board member Mike Kuehn. “I think taking two days off next week is a very good idea.”

Superintendent Jeff Horton said scheduled athletic contests will continue during the two days.

Horton said while there is an uptick in COVID-19 cases in the communities in the counties that comprise the GFW school district, there it does not involve students and staff to a great extent.

“Our staff is doing an amazing job,” Horton said.

• The board meeting went into closed session at 7:12 p.m. to discuss developing or considering offers for the purchase or sale of the former Fairfax school building to be sold by the school board.

After about 30 minutes, the board returned to open session and took no further action on the former Fairfax school building.

• Accepted donations of $250 from anonymous with no restrictions, $300 from Frandsen Bank & Trust for COVID PPE (personal protection equipment), $136.95 from Zoetis for GFW FFA and $140 from Midwest Bank for the National Honor Society coat drive.

Fritz Busch can be emailed at fbusch@nujournal.com.